This blog was medically reviewed by Dr. Katherine Howard, Allina Health family medicine obstetrician.
Have you recently found yourself thinking, I’m pregnant now what? First, know you’re not alone, many people wonder what to do when you find out you’re pregnant. Second, you’re in luck! We’re here to provide tips on navigating the early signs of pregnancy from health to home prep and what to expect on this amazing journey.
Maybe you just took a pregnancy test and you’re wondering, now what do I do? Below, we’ll walk you through every step of the way! We’ll talk through the medical care aspects of pregnancy, telling your friends and family, caring for your baby, preparing and educating and finally how to enjoy the journey!
Ensure a healthy pregnancy with a caring, experienced physician, and find a provider today.
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If you recently said, “Just found out I’m pregnant, now what do I do?” We get it, it can be a confusing time, especially if this is your first baby!
One of the first things to do when you find out you’re pregnant is to learn about the medical care you will need for yourself and your little one. Below, we’ll walk you through calculating your due date, meeting with a provider, what to know about miscarriages, medications, and more about doulas and midwives.
Calculate your due date
Most people know the pregnancy months can be broken into trimesters but tracking how far along you are in your pregnancy can be confusing, especially for first-time parents. A month-to-month breakdown of pregnancy and learning how to calculate your pregnancy from weeks to months can help!
Learning how to count pregnancy weeks to understand trimester length helps you know what to expect and how to prepare for delivery at The Mother Baby Center.
Meet with a provider and confirm pregnancy
How do you know you are pregnant without a test? Make an appointment with a health care provider. They can confirm your pregnancy, and how far along you are. Most clinics will see you for a nurse intake appointment around 8 weeks, with a first provider appointment after that.
The best way to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby is to schedule your first prenatal appointment with a health care provider throughout the entire pregnancy. Continuing these prenatal visits will include screenings and general health check-ups to monitor your pregnancy and baby and will prepare you for the birth of the baby.
Feel prepared and know what to expect with the first-trimester to-do list from The Mother Baby Center, conveniently located in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Coon Rapids.
Get familiar with early miscarriage symptoms
While we hope your pregnancy stays healthy and strong until delivery, some people experience miscarriages. Miscarriages happen in 15-20% of all pregnancies, usually in the first trimester. This term does not mean that a person did something to end the pregnancy. Most early pregnancy loss cannot be prevented.
Knowing the early signs of miscarriage is important so you can be prepared in case it happens to you. The most common symptom of pregnancy is vaginal bleeding – and it can be a little or a lot. You may also feel some cramping and pain, but that is not always the case. If you do have any of these symptoms, it’s important to call your health care provider.
Review your medications
One important thing to do when pregnant is inform your health care provider about all the medications you may be taking and any allergies you have. Being open and honest with your provider ensures they can give you the best care possible.
When pregnant, there are some medications, including common over-the-counter or skin care products you may not be able to take while pregnant. Talking through this with your health care provider is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Learn about doulas and midwives
You have a lot of choices when creating your birthing experience. So, you’ll want to explore and decide what your preferences are. Do you want a doula or midwife with you during delivery? Learning about delivery options can help you plan through your pregnancy journey and childbirth.
When to tell family and friends
When you decide to tell your family members and friends is completely up to you. While some people wait until their first trimester is over, others decide to share the news when they find out. There is no right or wrong answer here, the decision is yours!
Some people wait because of the chance of a miscarriage and once you move on to the second trimester, the chance of a miscarriage decreases significantly. But, it can be hard to hold in such a monumental secret. Sharing it can also provide a support group if you do have an unfortunate miscarriage.
Explore The Mother Baby Center blog for more tips and advice for new and expecting moms.
Take care of your body
You just found out you’re pregnant, things in your life are bound to change. One of the main things you will have to start doing is prioritizing and taking care of your body so you can help your little one grow big and strong. A healthy pregnancy means committing to a lifestyle that will sustain you and your baby throughout pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. For many, it means giving up habits and foods that could harm you and an unborn child.
Below we’ll walk you through some changes you may need to make now that you’re pregnant. You’ll learn you should stop drinking and smoking, you’ll want to start taking prenatal vitamins, elevating your diet and becoming (or continuing to be) physically active.
Stop drinking and smoking
Stopping drinking alcohol or smoking is critical to a successful pregnancy.
If you smoke cigarettes, or marijuana or use a vape, it’s not too late to stop. Smoking decreases blood flow to your baby, which means that your baby will get less oxygen. Smoking also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome.
Drinking beer, wine, or liquor during pregnancy would harm a developing baby, causing birth defects and, in some cases, lifelong learning problems. Even small amounts of alcohol can hurt brain development.
Start taking prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins can help you provide your baby with the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. These vitamins help provide some of the essential nutrients you may not be getting from your diet or maybe just not quite enough. These ensure that you will!
Elevate your diet
Elevate your diet by eating a variety of healthy fruits, vegetables and grains to nourish your baby and improve your overall health. Another way to elevate your diet is by adding lean sources of protein, such as chicken, turkey or fish. Sometimes people feel very sick during pregnancy so eating can be hard, but some foods can fight nausea during pregnancy.
Another way to make sure your diet is helping your baby is by limiting your caffeine intake. Caffeine speeds up your heart rate and stimulates your central nervous system. It’s best to limit caffeine to two, 6-ounce cups of coffee, three cups of tea or two cans of caffeinated soda each day.
Be physically active
It’s important for you and the health of your baby to be physically active during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), “Pregnant or postpartum women should do at least 150 minutes (for example, 30 minutes a day, five days a week) of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, such as brisk walking, during and after their pregnancy. It is best to spread this activity throughout the week.”
However, it’s important to talk with your health care provider if you feel being physically active isn’t working for you.
Explore support groups to help you transition to parenthood with The Mother Baby Center.
Prepare your home
Nesting is common when you’re pregnant. Nesting while pregnant is an instinct to clean and organize your home in preparation for your little one. Whether you feel it’s nesting or not, it’s important to prepare your home, nursery and wallet for a newborn baby.
We’ll talk you through why it’s important to ready your finances, make sure you know the cleaning dos and don’ts, keep track of future necessities and plan for paternity leave.
Ready your finances
Babies are expensive which is why readying your finances is important. Babies require a lot of items like diapers, bottles, clothes, etc. And, the cost doesn’t end when they grow up, raising a child can be just as expensive.
But that’s not all; you also need to prepare for the medical bills that accompany having a baby and a hospital stay. This is why checking in and ensuring your finances are ready is important before your baby is born.
Review cleaning do’s and don’ts
While in your nesting phase, you may want to clean up your house a bit. Now that you’re pregnant, there are some dos and don’ts for cleaning. Most cleaning chores can still be done, but there are some things to avoid.
According to Parents.com, “Certain products, like solvents (used in oven cleaners, paint thinners, and varnish removers, for example) are known to be harmful to developing babies and should have warning labels for pregnant people. To be safe, stay away from anything labeled ‘toxic.’” It’s also recommended not to use aerosol sprays which are common for most cleaning products.
Keep track of future necessities
As you nest, you may be getting rid of any excess items in your home that you no longer need. Be careful not to throw out too many things you might decide you want in the future.
As your pregnancy develops comfort items like pillows, cozy outfits and blankets may become more important. Even slippers are perfect for when your feet begin to hurt. If you’re having a baby shower, you can add these essential items to your list.
Plan and prepare for paternity leave
If you have a partner, it’s important to prepare for their leave from work.
- How long is their paternity leave?
- Do they have to take it right after the birth?
- Can they spread it out?
These are all good questions to think about and ask an employer when preparing for your baby’s arrival. Maybe they can spread their leave out to extend the time you wouldn’t need a daycare or someone else to be at home with the baby. There are tons of options!
Connect with other expecting parents through support groups in-person and online for every stage of pregnancy.
Educate yourself on what to expect
Going through pregnancy now, there is so much to educate yourself on. Learning about your baby’s growth and development, anticipating mental and emotional changes for you, the different delivery options available to you and more are all important areas to become familiar with.
Learn about baby growth and development
One way you can learn about your baby’s growth and development is by learning about the weeks and trimesters of pregnancy. Through each week, your baby will grow and develop differently, reaching different stages as the weeks go by. For example, during these last few weeks of the first trimester, you can expect your baby to be able to bend its limbs, make and release urine and develop genitals and fingernails.
Anticipate mental and emotional changes
Pregnancy can bring on a whirlwind of emotions. One day you might feel excited and blissfully happy, and the next you might feel anxious or even depressed. You’ll likely experience a range of pregnancy emotions throughout these nine months that can be amplified from feeling tired or exhausted as your body changes.
Because of the hormones that come with pregnancy, your emotions can change swiftly. But, if you begin feeling like your sadness and depression aren’t going away, talk to your health care provider about additional support you may need. Additional support could be as simple as joining a support group, but could also include taking medication to help.
Additional pregnancy symptoms
Some things that your body may do or experience may be unfamiliar if you’ve never been pregnant before. Things like spider veins which are tiny, thin veins that show through your skin and are only temporary. Or you may experience an itchy belly, usually as a result of your skin expanding. Plus, while pregnant, you might experience various emotions, even heightened ones, which can lead to vivid dreams as your brain tries to interpret them.
Consider different delivery methods
Today, mothers are offered a variety of childbirth options and every person has a different labor experience. While labor and delivery may not always go as planned, it is important to know your options. Learn about the different delivery methods, the pros and cons of each and how to choose which is best for your family.
- Vaginal birth: Vaginal birth delivery is the most common type of delivery. In a vaginal birth, the mother delivers the baby through the birth canal. Labor can be a straightforward, uncomplicated process for the mother’s body but may require medical assistance at some point.
- Water birth: During a water birth delivery, the mother labors in a tub of water similar to a hot tub. The mother can relax in warm water and feel the buoyancy and freedom of movement during and between contractions. The baby can be delivered underwater, or the mother can exit the water and deliver in a different position.
- Cesarean: A cesarean section or C-section birthing option is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. Sometimes doctors schedule a C-section in advance; other times, they perform it in response to an unforeseen complication.
- Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): VBAC is possible for some women. The best candidates for a VBAC are women who have undergone only one prior C-section and are currently experiencing a healthy, problem-free pregnancy. The most important criteria for choosing a VBAC is the reason for your previous C-section is not a factor with this pregnancy.
- Scheduled induction: If you have gone past your due date and you and your baby are ready, your doctor might schedule an induction, which involves a medication called Pitocin to start your labor.
Think about postpartum care options
The postpartum journey looks different for everyone. You may be wondering how to cope with your postpartum journey. There are many ways to help manage this phase of your life. You could try talking to others, different self-care methods or medications.
If you need additional support during your postpartum recovery, try one of the support groups offered by The Mother Baby Center.
Pelvic floor physical therapy
Many women experience leaking urine after childbirth, called incontinence. This can be involved in the recovery, especially the recovery from vaginal birth. It can happen randomly, or when you jump, sneeze or other quick movements. Incontinence usually only lasts for a few weeks, but for some women, it can last much longer.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can support your postpartum journey if you are struggling with incontinence or other symptoms as a result of childbirth.
Enjoy the journey
This is an exciting next chapter for many families! While being pregnant, especially for the first time, can feel scary, it’s such a joyous time, and it’s important to try and remember to enjoy the journey. Take photos, journal or write notes to your little one, and remember this is a special and rare time before things change forever.
Holistic care through every stage of pregnancy with The Mother Baby Center
At The Mother Baby Center, we are here for you through every stage of pregnancy, including the very beginning when you just found out you are pregnant! We hope this article helped lay out the next months of your life and show what you can expect throughout pregnancy.
From the first week of pregnancy to the weeks after your baby arrives, The Mother Baby Center has expert care to support you and your family. The holistic approach to care ensures that your family feels safe, reassured and ready for delivery and the journey into parenthood. Find a pediatrician that’s right for you and be ready for delivery at The Mother Baby Center.